To the Mayor and Councillors, with the city of Saskatoon.
We the undersigned, are residents, owners and business owners at the Banks condominium complex located at 404 Ave C South in Saskatoon Saskatchewan.
We are strongly opposed to the hurried and ill-considered choice made for the location of a new warming center approved by council to operate at 325 Ave C South until March 31 2026, at which time we understand it will be reviewed by council for longer term use. We were blind-sided with the news of this decision without providing us the opportunity to ask questions to city administration and council ,and to share our concerns.
We believe this location, beside the Salvation Army, will greatly increase the homeless traffic in our neighbourhood and will add to the many issues we are already dealing with concerning the homeless, including:
-Ongoing encampments in the neighbourhood, which present health and safety concerns for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Many of us curtainly avoid Avenue C and sidewalks for safety reasons due to the stream of jay walkers and the ongoing presence of encampments on the sidewalks. Residents of The Banks and our guests are hesitate to park on the street around our complex due to vandalism and harassments.
-Open drug use by non-residents in and around our courtyard. Needles and drug paraphernalia are left behind, presenting a safety hazard for contractors and volunteers working in our courtyard and perimeter planters.
-Unpredictable and aggressive behaviour from non-residents passing through our courtyard, including loud swearing and fighting with weapons.
-Garbage, discarded clothing, vomit and human excrement left in the courtyard and in the periphery by non-residents.
-Property damage and theft.
We have invested not only in our individual properties but also in the neighbourhood as a whole, trusting in the City of Saskatoon's vision of rejuvenating Riversdale. A warming center in this locationwill NOT rejuvenate Riversdale.
As Major Gordon Taylor of the Salvation Army has advised council , concentrating services in one area of the city , and on this block, is a "bad idea"!
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
December 4, 2025
24 Comments
Respectfully, I have a son living in The Banks. We made an investment in this area as we perceive that it will continue to improve over time, even as it clearly has challenges such as open drug use, bonfires in open lots, vandalism of our cars, and intrusions into our buildings. Additional foot traffic to a night time warmup shelter is not welcome.
Listen to the advice of Major Taylor of the Salvation Army who SHOULD KNOW where to locate the shelter away from this concentrated area. He is the expert on this issue.
I agree with all that is stated.. being a business owner within the Banks courtyard… I deal with homelessness on a daily basis… which have included: excrement, garbage, sleeping, needles, verbal abuse.
My granddaughter lives across the street. There is already lots of crime, overdosing and issues in that area as is . Park is a block away that young children can no longe4 play in for homeless encampments and drug debris . Bad bad idea .
Placing a homeless shelter here will not help revitalize Riversdale. It may instead encourage residents to leave the neighborhood. If we want the Gather Local Market and local businesses to flourish, and if we hope to bring new people into the community, we must prioritize safety, cleanliness, and an appealing streetscape.
Putting poverty in one location creates ghettos , increase crime, property damage. This is not what it is best for the community.
City needs to stop using Riversdale and the Westside as a homeless solution.
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To the Mayor and Councillors, with the city of Saskatoon.
We the undersigned, are residents, owners and business owners at the Banks condominium complex located at 404 Ave C South in Saskatoon Saskatchewan.
We are strongly opposed to the hurried and ill-considered choice made for the location of a new warming center approved by council to operate at 325 Ave C South until March 31 2026, at which time we understand it will be reviewed by council for longer term use. We were blind-sided with the news of this decision without providing us the opportunity to ask questions to city administration and council ,and to share our concerns.
We believe this location, beside the Salvation Army, will greatly increase the homeless traffic in our neighbourhood and will add to the many issues we are already dealing with concerning the homeless, including:
-Ongoing encampments in the neighbourhood, which present health and safety concerns for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Many of us curtainly avoid Avenue C and sidewalks for safety reasons due to the stream of jay walkers and the ongoing presence of encampments on the sidewalks. Residents of The Banks and our guests are hesitate to park on the street around our complex due to vandalism and harassments.
-Open drug use by non-residents in and around our courtyard. Needles and drug paraphernalia are left behind, presenting a safety hazard for contractors and volunteers working in our courtyard and perimeter planters.
-Unpredictable and aggressive behaviour from non-residents passing through our courtyard, including loud swearing and fighting with weapons.
-Garbage, discarded clothing, vomit and human excrement left in the courtyard and in the periphery by non-residents.
-Property damage and theft.
We have invested not only in our individual properties but also in the neighbourhood as a whole, trusting in the City of Saskatoon's vision of rejuvenating Riversdale. A warming center in this locationwill NOT rejuvenate Riversdale.
As Major Gordon Taylor of the Salvation Army has advised council , concentrating services in one area of the city , and on this block, is a "bad idea"!
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
December 4, 2025
24 Comments
Right idea. Wrong location. Riversdale has enough social supports. Unhoused populations are a city wide responsibility.
Respectfully, I have a son living in The Banks. We made an investment in this area as we perceive that it will continue to improve over time, even as it clearly has challenges such as open drug use, bonfires in open lots, vandalism of our cars, and intrusions into our buildings. Additional foot traffic to a night time warmup shelter is not welcome.
Listen to the advice of Major Taylor of the Salvation Army who SHOULD KNOW where to locate the shelter away from this concentrated area. He is the expert on this issue.
I agree with all that is stated.. being a business owner within the Banks courtyard… I deal with homelessness on a daily basis… which have included: excrement, garbage, sleeping, needles, verbal abuse.
My granddaughter lives across the street. There is already lots of crime, overdosing and issues in that area as is . Park is a block away that young children can no longe4 play in for homeless encampments and drug debris . Bad bad idea .
Placing a homeless shelter here will not help revitalize Riversdale. It may instead encourage residents to leave the neighborhood. If we want the Gather Local Market and local businesses to flourish, and if we hope to bring new people into the community, we must prioritize safety, cleanliness, and an appealing streetscape.
Putting poverty in one location creates ghettos , increase crime, property damage. This is not what it is best for the community.
City needs to stop using Riversdale and the Westside as a homeless solution.
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Right idea. Wrong location. Riversdale has enough social supports. Unhoused populations are a city wide responsibility.